THE SCHIMMEL'S LAST RACE Ralph cleared the mountain slope, but before he had covered a mile of way the darkness began to fall, till presently the night was black.

Now he must ride slowly, steering his path by the stars, and searching the dim outline of the mountains with his eyes.
But search as he would Ralph could not see the saw-edged rock.

He reached the range indeed, and for hour after hour roamed up and down it, his heart torn with helpless haste and fears, but it was of no use, so at last he dismounted, and holding the _schimmel_ by the bridle allowed him to eat a little grass while he waited for the moon to rise.

Oh! never was the moon so long in coming, but at length it came, and with it clear, soft light.

He looked, and there, not half a mile away, just showing in the shadows, was the saw-edged rock he sought.
"There is little time to lose," Ralph muttered to himself as the stallion swept across the plain towards the rock.